<p>I am writing in hopes of getting some much needed advice. I am at my wits end and really hope you guys can provide some advice.I am currently in the process of identifying where I will attend for my undergraduate studies.</p>
<p>Little background:
-Identified as dyslexic at 8. Effected reading and writing/spelling making school "interesting".
- Grades were not very good in high school, very difficult time period. Was homeless twice and dropped out for a brief period to care for my father. With all the distractions I barely graduated.
-Returned to finish school instead of taking the easy way out and obtaining a GED. Left for the military.
- Served in Iraq and Afghanistan, where I sustained combat related injuries and was medically discharged in late '06.
- Found employment in the oil/gas industry as a "safety" man.
-In 3 years managed to become a "company man" or company rep in exploration/production projects ($50 million/+) for Chevron. The typical tenure of a company man is 20+ years before obtaining this position to give a bit more understanding on what I achieved. Have worked all over the world.
- Currently 29, looking to start next fall.</p>
<p>With my G.I. Bill I can attend any Public institution, but feel that I owe it to myself to obtain the best education possible. I have been able to save a substantial amount to cover the extra cost to attend a Private institution. I am sure, due to my grades, that I will have to attend a community college. Which I am fine with, but worry this is just going to put me at a further disadvantage. My motivation is not money, but I actually enjoy finance and Equity Analysis.</p>
<p>So I guess the long and short of it is: with my background where do you guys feel I would have the best opportunity to obtain a quality education and have honest exposure to IB's ,etc? I am looking at Columbia University General Studies, NYU Stern, UT of Austin McCombs, U of M Ross, UVa, and Northwestern. I have no doubt that I have the ability and work ethic to succeed at these institutions, but worry how much my poor showing during my high school years will be what prevents me from this. Any recommendations, no matter how honest or broad are welcomed.</p>
<p>First of all I just want to say thank you for the service you have done for our country. It is a privilege to have people like you in the US and I admire you for your desire to go on and get an education after all you’ve done.</p>
<p>I honestly don’t know much about something like this, but you should also check out the CC thread specifically for veterans. It’s in the College Admissions Section, Specialty College Admissions Topics. I would suppose more people would know about that. In all honesty, as long as you have the capabilities to enter into one of those institutions. I don’t know how you can show that without a college GPA or standardized tests, and I honestly have no idea how being a veteran affects admissions, but I’m an optimist, so I think that your accomplishments as a human being and for this country will do you wonders. You also already have corporate/financial experience, so you would probably be much more prepared than the other students. </p>
<p>Good luck, hope you end up in the place you want to be.</p>
<p>EDIT: FYI, my mom went to Columbia School of Continuing Education (kind of like general studies) after she got her BA in religion (ended up becoming a really good doctor), so to put things in perspective, based on how much more you have done (no offense to my mother), I think you are on the right path. Just remember, the schooling will be extremely difficult. Make sure you know you can do it before diving head first into it.</p>
<p>If you want to work in Wall Street, then look no further than Columbia School of General Studies. GS tends to recruit heavily from the ranks of those who’ve served in the military and students with non-traditional backgrounds who have a good story. Honestly, I think that your story fits what GS is looking for, someone who has been hungry for success and is willing to use this opportunity to enter into a new industry. I’m no expert, but I’ll try to analyze your story and resume. Needless to say, it’s fairly compelling but has some blemishes that would best be served by speaking to an admissions officer or someone who has more expertise.</p>
<p>First, your profile shows great perseverance, which should reflect well in your essays and overall background. Second, you have already succeeded in the field that you’re currently working in. This demonstrates that you’re able to excel in a competitive business environment, which speaks well to your NPV if GS accepts you and your matriculate. Third, you have substantial savings and the help of the GI Bill, which means you can pay for Columbia without the need for financial aid.</p>
<p>Your main weakness, which is in all honesty not that bad, is your academic achievement. However, I’m not sure how much importance Columbia gives to high school academics. If this is an area that experts say is weak, I’d recommend enrolling in a state school for a semester or part time in order to take some classes. You don’t need to show that you’re a genius, rather that you’ve changed a huge deal and that your high school performance was a fluke. However, I think Columbia GS sees many students with your background. I’m inclined to think that they will put less emphasis on academics since you’ve been out of school for a while. However, anything you can do to bolster your “academic firepower”, be that retaking SAT’s, GRE’s, or GMAT’s will lend more credence to your ability to handle the academics here. In all honesty though, studying something like Economics or Political Science isn’t that bad…</p>
<p>Good luck with applications. There’s also a large contingent of ex-military guys on Wall Street and they have a fairly close-knit community.</p>